Kaiyō Hanakotō Ryokan

The Jolly Cricketers is the local inn near Chimneys, notable in the investigation less as a setting for extended action than as a place where an unfamiliar guest is observed and where Anthony Cade says he stayed after hearing a shot near the house. Its ordinary role as an inn becomes part of the inquiry: who arrived, by what means, and when helps distinguish a suspicious presence from a visitor with an account to give.

Setting and First Notice

As the doctor, Anthony, and the local authorities travel briskly towards Chimneys, they pass the Jolly Cricketers and see a man standing in its doorway. The doctor does not recognize him and wonders how long he has been staying there or what brought him to the inn. He supposes that the stranger arrived the previous night; Johnson adds that the man did not come by train. The inn thus supplies an immediate lead: a guest has appeared without being accounted for by the known train arrivals.

The Inn in the Inquiry

The inspector asks Johnson whether anyone had arrived for the Jolly Cricketers, and Johnson says no. That answer sharpens the question of the stranger’s arrival rather than resolving it. The inspector directs that inquiries be made at the inn on the way back, seeking information about any strangers. He also notes the man’s sunburnt appearance and considers that he may have come from abroad. The inn is treated as a source of evidence about movements and identity, though these details alone do not establish what the stranger has done.

Anthony Cade’s Account

Anthony later enters Chimneys after hearing that a murder has occurred and says he came to offer information that might shed light on it. He explains that he was late, left his car, crossed the wall, and ran through the park. On reaching the terrace, he heard a shot, tried the windows, found them fastened, and heard nothing from inside. After waiting, he concluded that the sound might have been a poacher’s shot and went on to the inn. He says he stayed there and learned the news the following morning, when he recognized that his presence would make him appear suspicious; he therefore came to tell his story rather than risk being treated as a suspect without explanation.

The Jolly Cricketers consequently serves two investigative functions: it is where an unrecognized arrival prompts questions, and it is the place Anthony names as his destination after his reported visit to the darkened house. Its significance lies in this contrast between an unknown guest whose arrival requires checking and Anthony, who openly offers an account that the investigators can assess.